Festival Preview: Leeds Festival 2007
Artist profile:
The Smashing Pumpkins
Going to Leeds Festival? Here's the low down on a few acts that you won't want to miss:
The Smashing Pumpkins
The first band to headline at the legendary Leeds Festival are, of course, the Smashing Pumpkins. With a long awaited upcoming album entitled 'Zeitgeist' due for release in July, the first since 1999, fans can expect to hear a mix of the old and the new from these lot. "Anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land" will undoubtedly come in the form of 'Tonight, Tonight', 'Siva and, of course '1979'. Being one of the biggest and most commercially successful bands of the 1990s, critically acclaimed by many, and famed for having more layers to their work than a multi-story car park, The Smashing Pumpkins are one hell of a way to headline the opening night.
Razorlight
Ok, so they seem like a pretty odd choice of headliner, but Razorlight are indeed taking to the main stage at Leeds Festival on Saturday night. With only two albums under their belts, and no foodstuff in their name, standing next to the likes of The Chilis and The Pumpkins must be rather daunting task for the London Lads. However, being able to list supporting the likes of The Who, Queen, Oasis and The Rolling Stones on your resume's gotta give you a bit of self confidence, eh? And confidence is where Razorlight are not lacking. With their latest, self-titled, album reaching the number one spot and getting highly sought after top ratings from the likes of Q magazine, the boys are brimming with the stuff. Let's just hope it's not overconfidence on the night.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Everyone likes The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or at the very least, knows one song. Therefore, we can conclude that their presence is the headline of the festival. They've been a band for over twenty years, that's longer than most attendees have been on the planet, so looking up in awe is in order from just about everyone. They've got global sales of over 50million and a stonking back catalogue to boot. Whatever selections are made for the setlist, it'll be a blinder, but we're hoping 'Californicacian', 'Scar Tissue' and 'Under The Bridge' will crop up. [Maybe we'll finally suss out that riff!]
Gym Class Heroes
Well, we know that they're not exactly up their in the fame ranks with the aforementioned, but what they lack in fame they make up for in infamy. Gym Class Heroes are a personal favourite of ours, and they're finally [and deservedly too] getting some recognition. Travis and co. put on a hell of a live show, so we'd recommend you get down their early because you will not want to miss a single second of it. Expect that token bunch of Radio 1 worshippers that only came to hear 'Cupid's Chokehold' but brush up on your stuff because 'The Queen And I', 'Makeout Club', 'Taxi Driver', and the rest are just as great, if not more so.
Fall Out Boy
Label mates with the 'Heroes, Fall Out Boy are pretty much a band that you either love or hate on principle. Their ability to write a good pop song is, however, unquestionable. They're fun and they're fabulous, but often, in the past, their live shows have left a little to be desired. Maybe with the newly acquired sense of self mockery will come showmanship and stage presence. Something to listen to in the sun, expect tracks from all of their three albums, and maybe some golden oldies as well. Whatever the weather, you can guarantee that their set will be a popular one, so set off early if you want to get a look-in edge ways.
Funeral For A Friend
Contrastingly, here is a band that knows how to perform. Funeral For A Friend never cease to amaze with their live shows. Exhilaratingly energetic and thoroughly exhausting at the same time, the Welsh boys have a hefty stack of songs from which to choose. Their latest album 'Tales Don't Tell Themselves' has received mixed reviews, and hasn't gone down as well with fans as the band would've liked, but nevertheless, strong song Into Oblivion will surely be gracing us with an appearance. Others to look out for include 'History', 'Streetcar' and 'All The Rage'. Their positioning below fellow countrymen The Lostprophets has raised a few eyebrows, but needless to say, we wouldn't want to be the ones to follow FFAF on stage.
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are brilliant. FACT. They've only really been in the public eye since 2005 with the release of their debut album 'Silent Alarm', which prompted pretty much everyone to sit up and take notice. If you missed the Bloc Party bandwagon, where have you been for the last two years? Basically, what happened was they bumped into Steve Lamacq at a Franz Ferdinand gig. Lamacq whose hands they thrust into their first single 'She's Hearing Voices', decided that they were genius, played them on his show all the time, and everyone in the world, except you, came to know and love them. Listen out for 'Banquet', 'So Here We Are' and 'Helicopter'
Klaxons
Fronting the trendy scene are the Klaxons. They're headlining on Friday, in competition for the spotlight with The Smashing Pumpkins. And that's where the similarities between the two groups just about end. Klaxons are at the forefront of the new-rave movement, flaunting strange fashion senses and rather large hairdos. They're not Leeds Festival virgins, though; they played in the Carling tent last year. There wasn't enough room for them, however, and fans were crowded around the outside chanting and brandishing glowsticks. If you weren't tripping before you see them, you're going to leave feeling like it.
The Pigeon Detectives
Local lads The Pigeon Detectives are clawing their way into the limelight with their very recent success from the top twenty single 'Romantic Type' and debut album 'Wait For Me' that went straight to number two. Like Bloc Party, they too have been championed by Lamacq, and quite rightly so. They're bound to get some of the best crowd reactions of the day, half their old high school will probably be in the audience, but they really do deserve it. Nip on down there and make sure you don't miss out because the tour tickets will be selling like hotcakes.
Harriet Jennings
The Smashing Pumpkins Official Site
The Smashing Pumpkins Myspace
Buy The Smashing Pumpkins CDs | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins mp3s | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins Tickets | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins Merch
Going to Leeds Festival? Here's the low down on a few acts that you won't want to miss:
The Smashing Pumpkins
The first band to headline at the legendary Leeds Festival are, of course, the Smashing Pumpkins. With a long awaited upcoming album entitled 'Zeitgeist' due for release in July, the first since 1999, fans can expect to hear a mix of the old and the new from these lot. "Anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land" will undoubtedly come in the form of 'Tonight, Tonight', 'Siva and, of course '1979'. Being one of the biggest and most commercially successful bands of the 1990s, critically acclaimed by many, and famed for having more layers to their work than a multi-story car park, The Smashing Pumpkins are one hell of a way to headline the opening night.
Razorlight
Ok, so they seem like a pretty odd choice of headliner, but Razorlight are indeed taking to the main stage at Leeds Festival on Saturday night. With only two albums under their belts, and no foodstuff in their name, standing next to the likes of The Chilis and The Pumpkins must be rather daunting task for the London Lads. However, being able to list supporting the likes of The Who, Queen, Oasis and The Rolling Stones on your resume's gotta give you a bit of self confidence, eh? And confidence is where Razorlight are not lacking. With their latest, self-titled, album reaching the number one spot and getting highly sought after top ratings from the likes of Q magazine, the boys are brimming with the stuff. Let's just hope it's not overconfidence on the night.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Everyone likes The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or at the very least, knows one song. Therefore, we can conclude that their presence is the headline of the festival. They've been a band for over twenty years, that's longer than most attendees have been on the planet, so looking up in awe is in order from just about everyone. They've got global sales of over 50million and a stonking back catalogue to boot. Whatever selections are made for the setlist, it'll be a blinder, but we're hoping 'Californicacian', 'Scar Tissue' and 'Under The Bridge' will crop up. [Maybe we'll finally suss out that riff!]
Gym Class Heroes
Well, we know that they're not exactly up their in the fame ranks with the aforementioned, but what they lack in fame they make up for in infamy. Gym Class Heroes are a personal favourite of ours, and they're finally [and deservedly too] getting some recognition. Travis and co. put on a hell of a live show, so we'd recommend you get down their early because you will not want to miss a single second of it. Expect that token bunch of Radio 1 worshippers that only came to hear 'Cupid's Chokehold' but brush up on your stuff because 'The Queen And I', 'Makeout Club', 'Taxi Driver', and the rest are just as great, if not more so.
Fall Out Boy
Label mates with the 'Heroes, Fall Out Boy are pretty much a band that you either love or hate on principle. Their ability to write a good pop song is, however, unquestionable. They're fun and they're fabulous, but often, in the past, their live shows have left a little to be desired. Maybe with the newly acquired sense of self mockery will come showmanship and stage presence. Something to listen to in the sun, expect tracks from all of their three albums, and maybe some golden oldies as well. Whatever the weather, you can guarantee that their set will be a popular one, so set off early if you want to get a look-in edge ways.
Funeral For A Friend
Contrastingly, here is a band that knows how to perform. Funeral For A Friend never cease to amaze with their live shows. Exhilaratingly energetic and thoroughly exhausting at the same time, the Welsh boys have a hefty stack of songs from which to choose. Their latest album 'Tales Don't Tell Themselves' has received mixed reviews, and hasn't gone down as well with fans as the band would've liked, but nevertheless, strong song Into Oblivion will surely be gracing us with an appearance. Others to look out for include 'History', 'Streetcar' and 'All The Rage'. Their positioning below fellow countrymen The Lostprophets has raised a few eyebrows, but needless to say, we wouldn't want to be the ones to follow FFAF on stage.
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are brilliant. FACT. They've only really been in the public eye since 2005 with the release of their debut album 'Silent Alarm', which prompted pretty much everyone to sit up and take notice. If you missed the Bloc Party bandwagon, where have you been for the last two years? Basically, what happened was they bumped into Steve Lamacq at a Franz Ferdinand gig. Lamacq whose hands they thrust into their first single 'She's Hearing Voices', decided that they were genius, played them on his show all the time, and everyone in the world, except you, came to know and love them. Listen out for 'Banquet', 'So Here We Are' and 'Helicopter'
Klaxons
Fronting the trendy scene are the Klaxons. They're headlining on Friday, in competition for the spotlight with The Smashing Pumpkins. And that's where the similarities between the two groups just about end. Klaxons are at the forefront of the new-rave movement, flaunting strange fashion senses and rather large hairdos. They're not Leeds Festival virgins, though; they played in the Carling tent last year. There wasn't enough room for them, however, and fans were crowded around the outside chanting and brandishing glowsticks. If you weren't tripping before you see them, you're going to leave feeling like it.
The Pigeon Detectives
Local lads The Pigeon Detectives are clawing their way into the limelight with their very recent success from the top twenty single 'Romantic Type' and debut album 'Wait For Me' that went straight to number two. Like Bloc Party, they too have been championed by Lamacq, and quite rightly so. They're bound to get some of the best crowd reactions of the day, half their old high school will probably be in the audience, but they really do deserve it. Nip on down there and make sure you don't miss out because the tour tickets will be selling like hotcakes.
Harriet Jennings
The Smashing Pumpkins Official Site
The Smashing Pumpkins Myspace
Buy The Smashing Pumpkins CDs | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins mp3s | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins Tickets | Buy The Smashing Pumpkins Merch
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